MARLBORO – Democrats were the winners in Marlboro on Election Day, Nov. 3, as voters tapped Jonathan Hornik to serve his third term as mayor, re-elected Randi Marder to the Township Council, and selected Michael Scalea to serve a full term on the council.
In the race for mayor, Hornik received 4,807 votes to defeat Republican Ira Goldberg, who received 2,226 votes, according to results posted on the Monmouth County website. The election results are unofficial until the county certifies them.
In the aftermath of the election, Hornik said, “I am very thankful for the residents of Marlboro for supporting what we have done for the last eight years and for accepting us in our re-election for the next four years. I am looking forward to doing great things for the town and working with Democrats, Republicans and independents to keep Marlboro great.”
Goldberg, who was making his first bid for office, said, “I really want to thank the people who came out to vote for me because those are the people who realize we have to make a change. Marlboro needs to have a new regime, a new administration, and they came out and supported me.
“I really feel sorry for our residents in Marlboro. I am angry and upset that the people are going to live with another four years of the same oblivion they have been in. It is a shame more supporters were not there, but if I could go back and thank each one of them I would, because those are the people who realize we needed a change.
“When I was asked to run, I said it is not only an honor, but just to be selected as the candidate of 40,000 residents, you cannot ask for more than that,” Goldberg said.
In the race for two four-year terms on the Township Council, Marder and Scalea defeated Republicans Sui Allex and John Dwyer. Scalea received 3,871 votes and Marder received 3,812 votes in their winning bids. Dwyer received 2,817 votes and Allex received 2,764 votes.
Marder won her third term on the council, while Scalea, who was appointed to the council in January to fill an open seat, won his first full term on the governing body.
After the outcome of the vote had been determined, Allex said, “I thought we ran a great campaign and everyone worked really hard. I am at peace with my heart and everything that occurred. I do not have any regrets. I came into this journey not knowing what was going to happen and I met some really wonderful people along the way.
“We worked as best as we could and it was a great learning experience for me and I feel blessed and I am grateful we came this far. I have no regrets, the best party won, and I am fine with whatever happened at the end.
“Whatever the results were, I was perfectly at peace either way. I was not disappointed or ecstatic, but I was perfectly fine with whatever happened. We got knocked down, but we are going to get up and go. You learn from your mistakes so you have to keep moving forward,” Allex said.
“In the end, the people of Marlboro have spoken,” Dwyer said. “My hope is that the mayor and council members will listen to some of the issues we brought up in our campaign and see that the people want more transparency for some of the difficult issues that are looming in our future.
“I will continue to love living in Marlboro and Monmouth County. I stand ready and willing to serve this town when I am needed. I met a lot of amazing people through this journey and I would like to thank the people of Marlboro for their support,” Dwyer said.
Marder said, “I would like to thank the voters for coming out and supporting our ticket. Running for office is never an easy thing, but it is something I have felt strongly about and the fact that it is my third time running, I still feel strongly about doing it this time around as I did in the beginning and I appreciate the support.”
“It is a great feeling. I was appointed to fill (Frank LaRocca’s) spot on the council and now the residents have officially voted me in so I feel great about that. I look forward to another four years of giving back to the community. We have a lot to do and I am looking forward to it,” Scalea said.
Hornik, Marder and Scalea appeared to be the beneficiaries of a decision by hundreds of voters who cast their ballots for Republicans in three races at the top of the ticket to vote for Democrats in the municipal election.
The race for the position of Monmouth County clerk pitted Republican Christine Giordano Hanlon against Democrat Kevin Kane. In Marlboro, Hanlon (who won the election) received 3,081 votes and Kane received 2,677 votes.
The race for one seat on the Monmouth County Board of Freeholders pitted Republican John Curley against Democrat Carol Rizzo. In Marlboro, Curley (who won the election) received 2,890 votes and Rizzo received 2,754 votes.
The race for two seats in the state Assembly pitted Republicans Amy Handlin and Declan O’Scanlon against Democrats Thomas Herman and Jeanne Cullinane. In Marlboro, Handlin received 3,184 votes and O’Scanlon received 3,111 votes; Cullinane received 2,580 votes and Herman received 2,539 votes. O’Scanlon and Handlin were re-elected to the Assembly.
Asked if the Republicans in Marlboro could draw any conclusions about the loss of votes from the races at the top of the ticket, Dwyer said the GOP would withhold comment until the numbers could be studied and discussed.